The Florence, Islington  

The Florence, or "that place behind the petrol station'' in more forgetful moments, has been a regular haunt of ours for several years, with its spot just off Upper Street making it less likely to be rammed than places on the main thoroughfare. It felt comfortable and was usually lively, without being claustrophobically busy, so it's a shame to report that many of the warm touches have gone following a change of management. The more loungey area to the back of the bar is pretty much the same, but the rest now looks a little plain and uninteresting. Where once you could relax in an armchair, a regulation issue stool takes its place. A couple of plants, anything really to soften the edges, would also make an instant improvement. Furthermore, on a recent visit the volume control on the TV could have been set a bit lower -- with only two people watching the rugby it seemed unnecessary to inflict it upon everyone else. It wouldn't take much to recapture the old atmosphere, we'll be back to see how things are going.

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